MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A spirited performance late in the game propelled No. 24 Memphis to a 61-53 victory over Wichita State on Thursday night, led by PJ Haggerty’s impressive 22 points, while Tyrese Hunter contributed 16.
Memphis (15-4, 5-1 in the American Athletic Conference) turned the tide in a closely contested match by unleashing a 12-0 scoring spree in the final five minutes of play. Throughout the game, the lead exchanged hands 10 times, accompanied by three ties, underscoring the competitive nature of the matchup.
Harlond Beverly was the standout for Wichita State (11-8, 1-5), scoring 18 points, while Corey Washington chipped in with 11 points. Quincy Ballard also made his mark with a double-double, recording 10 points and 10 rebounds. Unfortunately for the Shockers, they have faced tough times lately, winning just once in their last six games.
The opening half was marred by turnovers and inefficient shooting, with Memphis committing 14 turnovers before halftime. Both teams struggled, unable to break the 40% shooting mark, and combined for just five successful 3-point shots out of 20 attempts. Wichita State managed to hold a slender lead at halftime, finishing the half ahead 27-23.
Key takeaways from the contest include Wichita State’s display of resilience, as they maintained their lead for most of the first half, showcasing a performance that belied their conference standings. Memphis, on the other hand, has struggled with slow starts in previous home games, often needing to rally in the second half to secure victories.
A pivotal moment occurred when Haggerty, who already scored 18 points, had to exit the game due to injury with 4:54 left and the Tigers trailing 51-49. Shortly thereafter, Hunter hit a crucial 3-pointer that swung the momentum to 52-51 in favor of Memphis. This spurred the Tigers into a decisive 12-0 run, highlighted by two steals from Hunter during that stretch.
An important stat from the game was the performance of Xavier Bell, Wichita State’s leading scorer, who was held scoreless, missing all four of his attempts and unable to impact the game due to foul trouble.
Looking ahead, both teams are set to play on Sunday, with Wichita State visiting Tulsa and Memphis welcoming UAB for their next contests.
